1/18/2014 - 1/22/2014 Tallahassee, FL and Biloxi, MS

We arrived in Tallahassee and stayed at the Tallahassee RV Park, http://www.tallahasseervpark.com/ .  The park was a short distance from the interstate.  There were a lot of people doing the same as us, fleeing the cold weather.  We met people from Augusta and Houston.  Shortly after we arrived, another 2014 Entegra Anthem arrived.  They were as new to this lifestyle as we are.   They had just left the Lazy Days RV Dealer and were spending their first night on their way back to Houston.  It reminded us of how much we have learned since last August.   We went to see "Lone Survivor".  It was good, but very intense as is the case in most war movies.  We toured the area very little, but enjoyed the nice rest.

On Monday, Jan 20, 2014, we left for Biloxi, MS.  It was one of our longest travel days, but changing to Central Time Zone helped a lot.  We stayed in Cajun RV Park, http://www.cajunrvpark.com/ .  We were near the Keesler AFB, and across the street from the ocean.  We enjoyed the campground and the area was nice for walking.

We traveled along the ocean to Pass Christian, MS.  The most remarkable impression was the number of vacant properties.  It was very obvious that the businesses and homes were gone due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and had not been rebuilt.  Many areas about 3 blocks back were bare.

 The piers along the water front were washed away.  The Cities had new Ports built for large ships and fishing boats.  Things standing near the water were new. After some research, we read that insurance companies had refused to insure people so we are sure many chose not to rebuild for this reason.

We visited Grandmother Keenan's (my stepfather's mother) house in Gulfport.  Brenda and I last saw her and the house in 1972 when we brought 6 week old Bob(by) to meet her (her first great grandchild).  The house is virtually abandoned now and nearly destroyed.  When it was inhabited, there was a fence and several big pecan trees.  So sad-this was a place of many memories and a house filled with love during my youth.

We also had a recommendation from Mary Nanette to eat at Pirate's Cove Restaurant.  So with some research we found the new location.  The old place was destroyed, and they have reopened in a new location.  The roast beef poboy was recommended and it was very good.  The shrimp poboys are also supposed to be very good.

Brenda and I enjoyed the beauty of the ocean and beaches.  We walked on the beach for some distance and took some pictures. 

We expected it to be warmer here, but the cold found us here.  It dropped to freezing at night, so it is time to move again.  Next stop Frog City RV Park in LA-(Louisiana not Los Angeles!)

1/16/2014 - 1/18/2014 Coastal Georgia RV Resort

Thursday, January 16, we left Mt Pleasant, SC.  Our trip took us along US HWY 17 towards Beaufort, SC.  HWY 17 was a relaxing and scenic journey.  We had traveled this stretch of road before and noted many changes.  We stopped for lunch at the Georgia welcome center and verified our next fuel location.  We stopped in Richmond Hill, Ga at the last Kroger Grocery/Fuel Island along our journey. We had planned this since leaving Knoxville, TN.  We put 70 gallons in the motor home and 16 gallons in the van.  This was a savings of $86.  We had saved our fuel rewards to put fuel into the vehicles with a discount of $1.00 each gallon.  Maneuvering into the Kroger fuel pumps required us to block some lanes for a short time, but they and we survived.   Brenda gave great directions to get out of the parking lot.

We arrived at Coastal Georgia RV Resort,   http://www.coastalgarvresort.com/ .  The sites are spacious and along a coastal water way.  They have some of the  nicest facilities so far: pool, pavilion, boats, dog play area, game room, and kids play equipment.

Although the weather is warmer than Knoxville, TN, it is not warm enough.  It got to freezing at night for two nights.  Farther south is needed.

Thursday, we traveled around Brunswick.  We went to Jekyll Island.  We discovered that they have camping on the island and bicycle routes around the island.  This might be a fun location to visit again.

There is a lot of  marshland in this area.  It would not take much of a storm hit to be flooded.  We also performed some shopping in Brunswick, and spent the evening in the campground.

We left Friday, January 18 for Tallahassee, Fl.

1/10/2014 - 1/16/2014 KOA Mt Pleasant, SC

We arrived at KOA Mt Pleasant, SC http://koa.com/campgrounds/mount-pleasant-charleston/ January 10.  It was a short trip and comfortable for a day.  We got 20 gallons of diesel to ensure we made it to Savannah, GA.  Since we were in cold weather so long and used diesel for heat, we were not sure we had enough.

We did experience a scam in the rest area that we stopped at for lunch.  While we were eating, all of a sudden outside our coach appeared about 10 men gambling with a game of follow the card to win.  Supposedly they were gambling $100 each time, win or lose.  They knocked on our door asking me to check this out.  Once I figured out the ruse, I was making an exit.  They tried to get me to stay and gamble.  Brenda, observing this inside the coach, insisted that I get out of the group, since it was a scam.  There was another RVer there who also left.  After we left they disbursed.  This was a first in a rest area today.  It showed how you have to be aware of scam artists as you travel.

We arrived at the KOA on a Friday so Jeff, Rhonda, Ben, and Lauren were free to visit during the weekend.  We picked up Bobby Friday night, and he stayed with us until Sunday night. Lauren and Ben visited us frequently and enjoyed the playground as much as the motor home, so did we.

Saturday, January 11, Bobby, Brenda and Robert kept the children at night while Rhonda and Jeff joined some friends for a night out.  They had a great time downtown Charleston at the Alley.

January 12 was Ben's Birthday.  His big party is the following week when we are gone.  Sunday we gathered at Jeff and Rhonda's home with Rodney and Janet Pye and Grace Dangerfield for his birthday celebration.  We all sang Happy Birthday and ate cake and ice cream.  Everyone had a great time, and we were so thrilled to be able to share Ben's special day with him.

Monday thru Wednesday Jeff worked late each day, but we were able to see him each night for dinner before retiring for the night.  Each day we visited with Rhonda and the children either at the campground or at their home.

One day we shopped at Trader Joe's and Camping World in North Charleston.  The Camping World was smaller than many we have visited, but was big enough to find what we needed.

On January 16, we left Mt. Pleasant SC for Brunswick, Ga.

1/8/2014 - 1/10/2014 Pine Ridge Campground

Since our last post in early November, we were in Knoxville, TN hosting out family Thanksgiving with all our children and grandchildren.  They came from Maine, Connecticut, Texas and South Carolina.  It was a great time of visiting with all.  Some went to Dollywood.

We spent Christmas in Connecticut with Nikki, Jason, and kids.   Debbie and Austin Keenan joined us for our trip.

  We returned late December and made plans to leave Knoxville for a winter trip where there was less cold.  After enduring an early January as cold as 0 degrees in Knoxville, TN, we decided to leave in search of  warmer weather.  Our first stop was in Spartanburg, SC.  It was close enough for James and Linda Clark to join us for a day.  We traveled around Spartanburg shopping and ate Mexican food before returning to our motor-home.  There we played games.  We taught James and Linda to play Phase 10 cards.  This turned into a great time visiting and talking with family.

Pine Ridge Campground http://www.pineridgecampground.com/  was one of our favorite campgrounds to stay.  It was so remote that we were not sure what we would find as we approached, but we liked it.  It included a stocked lake for free fishing, pool, and ample room to not feel cramped into a parking space.  Snuggs, Brenda and Robert went on frequent walks around the park and met several nice folks.  The owners had bought the campground in March and were very friendly.  They obviously had chosen an occupation they enjoyed.  January 10 we left for Mt Pleasant, SC.